𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: On the brink of an arranged marriage, Alpha Choi Seungcheol’s world is upended when, during a tense dinner with a rival pack, he locks eyes with Aria — the omega who turns out to be his fated mate.
𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: alpha!choi seungcheol x biracial!female!omega!oc ( Aria )
𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: This is my first time writing an werewolf au fic. Hope you enjoy.
𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: None
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Chapter I🌙: Bound By Duty, Shaken By Fate
THE SUN BEGAN to set beyond the horizon, casting a warm pink and orange gradient across the sky. Alpha Choi Seungcheol stood in front of the tall windows of his office, his arms crossed over his broad chest and his jaw tight as he stared at the mountain range beyond the Shadowcrest border. His reflection in the glass was sharp and severe—the image of an Alpha raised for power, control, and legacy. Yet, despite the weight of those responsibilities on his shoulders, the silence felt even heavier. The only sound was the grandfather clock ticking behind him, each second dragging him closer to a future he didn’t want.
“Seungcheol,” The voice of Choi Seokjun, his father and the former Alpha, called out, entering the room and sitting in a chair. “You’ve had long enough.”
Seungcheol didn’t even turn to face his father. “You’re rushing this.”
“You’ve had years,” Seokjun snapped, rising from his seat. “Do you know how many other packs have offered their daughters? How many alliances have I kept balanced, waiting for you to choose?”
“I never asked for any of that.” The new Alpha grumbled, shaking his head.
“You didn’t need to. You’re the Alpha now. That means responsibility—” Seokjun’s voice lowered, colder. “—and sacrifice.”
Seungcheol finally turned, dark eyes locking with his father’s. “Did you sacrifice for Mom? Why can’t I get my mate bond like others do?”
His father didn't reply, but his expression never faltered as he answered. “Mates are rare. Romanticized. You can’t waste your prime years on a myth. You’ll marry Hyunjoo. She’s from a strong bloodline, is well-bred, and is beta-tempered. Her pack is neutral — an innovative alliance.”
Seungcheol’s fists clenched at his sides. He didn’t hate Hyunjoo. She was composed, intelligent, and even kind in the way Betas often were. Yet she didn’t stir anything within him. No pull. No instinct. No bond.
“I’m not some tool you can use for peace,” The younger Alpha muttered, although he couldn't convince his father anymore.
“You’re more than that,” Seokjun said reassuringly. “You’re a leader. A leader who protects his people with his choices.” Silence fell between them again.
Seungcheol didn’t answer because deep down, he knew his father wouldn’t bend, especially since the wedding was in two weeks.
“Are you attending Alpha Soren’s Alpha dinner next week?” Former Alpha Choi Seokjun asked his son, running a hand down his face.
“I don’t know, maybe.” His son answered, shrugging his shoulders.
The new Alpha wasn’t fond of Alpha Soren of the Silver Hollow Pack. He knew of his reputation and what he would do to maintain it. Soren was only four years younger than him and had killed over 1,200 rogues in the war against them two years ago, and thinks he’s untouchable and invincible. Seungcheol thought Soren was an egotistical jackass who needed to get knocked down from his high horse.
“Don’t forget Hyunjoo,” Seokjun said, fixing his glasses on his face.
“How can I not forget about her?” Seungcheol mumbled, shaking his head.
“She’s your soon-to-be wife,” Seokjun said without hesitation. “Two weeks from now, you will stand before both packs and seal this alliance. It’s time you start acting like it.”
“What if I meet my mate?” Seungcheol questioned, shrugging his shoulders.
“Our world doesn’t wait for fated bonds—it survives on strategic ones. You will go to that dinner. With Hyunjoo.” Seokjun expressed, walking around his son’s desk to stand in front of him.
For a long moment, the only sound was the ticking of the old clock in the corner. Finally, Seungcheol gave a stiff nod, though his eyes were cold.
“Yes, Father.” He obediently nodded and watched his father exit his office.
The heavy oak doors of the study closed behind Seungcheol with a dull thud. His footsteps echoed down the corridor until a quiet voice called out.
“You look like you’d just as soon punch through that wall,” Jeonghan, his Beta, stepping from the shadows near the grand staircase.
Seungcheol exhaled sharply. “I might.”
“Let me guess—more wedding talk?” Jeonghan asked, though his tone made it clear it wasn’t a question.
“Not just talk. Orders. I'm going to take Hyunjoo to Alpha Soren’s dinner. Play the dutiful fiancé.” Alpha Seungcheol sarcastically answered, shaking his head.
Jeonghan’s expression darkened upon hearing Alpha Soren’s name. “And if you meet your mate before the wedding?”
“I’ll know,” Seungcheol said without hesitation. “And when I know…I won’t let her go.”
In the small servants’ quarters beneath the grand Silver Hollow Pack House, lavender soap and freshly pressed linen detergent filled the room. A row of plain dresses hung along the wall, each a soft gray with white aprons neatly folded on top.
“Aria, your hem is crooked again,” Lila, one of the older Omegas, glancing over as she pinned her hair.
Aria gave a wry smile without looking up from the dress she tied at the waist. “It’s not crooked. It’s rebellious.”
That earned her a soft laugh from Mari, the youngest among them. “Better fix your rebellious hem before Alpha Soren notices. You know how he gets when one does something wrong.”
Aria’s smile faded slightly. Alpha Soren’s temper was no secret. “I’ll fix it,” she murmured, bending to adjust the fabric.
The other Omegas moved around her, the room alive with the rustle of fabric and the faint clink of hairpins. The air buzzed with chatter about the dinner upstairs.
“They say the Alpha of Shadowcrest is coming,” Lila whispered, lowering her voice as though even the walls might listen. “And his soon-to-be wife.”
“I heard he’s cold as ice,” Mari added, wide-eyed. “The kind of Alpha who could make the whole room go silent just by walking in.”
Aria didn’t join the gossip. She’d learned long ago that Omegas in this house were better off being seen and not heard. Still, a flicker of curiosity rose in her chest. “Aria.”
She looked up to find Lila studying her. “You’ll be serving the head table tonight. Keep your head down, your hands steady, and whatever you do, don’t spill anything.”
Aria tied her apron tighter and smoothed the skirt. “Got it.”
She looked down at the locket around her neck that once belonged to her father, clutching it and quietly praying.
As they filed up the narrow servant’s staircase, the faint strains of music drifted from the grand hall above. The smell of roasted meat and spiced wine wrapped around them.
Aria’s heart gave a strange, quickened beat. She didn’t know why, clueless as to what was about to happen—not yet.
Inside the grand dining hall of the Silver Hollow Pack house, a warm candlelight bathed the scene in an inviting glow. Long tables showcased polished silverware, steaming platters of food, and goblets filled with rich, dark red wine. Conversation flowed effortlessly between the packs, echoing in low, assured tones.
S. Coups confidently sat beside Hyunjoo at the head table, with his beta Jeonghan positioned across from him. His posture radiated authority and assurance. Alpha Soren sat across from them, dominating the space with his broad frame and watchful gaze.
Aria emerged from the servants’ side door, the silver pitcher gracefully held in the hands of the other omegas accompanying her. Each step she took resonated purposefully against the polished floor as she approached the head table. With a steady demeanor, she refilled the goblets of guests, her movements fluid and assured. As though drawn by an invisible thread, her gaze lifted.
Their eyes locked.
The world seemed to stop.
Alpha Seungcheol’s breath caught, a deep and primal recognition flooding his senses. Aria froze mid-pour, the warmth of the wine sloshing just shy of the goblet's rim.
Her irises flared, shifting for a heartbeat into a vivid, glowing violet. His eyes flashed deep crimson in answer—raw, instinctive, unrestrained. The bond roared to life between them, something ancient and unbreakable humming beneath the room's noise.
On the opposite side of Seungcheol, Hyunjoo’s smile faltered. She noticed the way his gaze lingered, the way his breathing shifted. Her hand on the table curled into a fist beneath the linen.
Aria quickly lowered her gaze and stepped back, heart racing, but the connection still burned between them like a silent promise neither could break.
Seungcheol’s jaw tightened. Mate.
Hyunjoo’s eyes narrowed.
His lip pressed into a thin line.
Across the table, Alpha Soren’s mate Mirae whispered something to him that made him boil with anger. His voice — sharp, commanding — that finally broke the spell. “Aria. Outside. NOW!”
Her body moved before her mind could catch up. She stepped back, heart pounding, hands trembling, and left the table without a word, but she could still feel Alpha Seungcheol’s eyes on her; the red glow burned into her memory.
Deep down, she knew — nothing about her life would ever be the same.
The heavy doors of the dining hall shut behind Aria with a resounding thud, sealing away the low chatter and clinking of cutlery.
Cool night air wrapped around her as she stepped into the stone corridor, the torchlight flickering against the walls. She barely had time to breathe before a shadow blocked her path.
Alpha Soren.
His towering form loomed over her, the weight of his presence pressing against her chest. His scent — sharp pine and iron — was thick in the air.
“What was that?” His voice was low, dangerous.
Aria swallowed hard. “I don’t—the pitcher—”
“I saw your eyes,” He cut in, narrowing his eyes at her. “Purple. What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m s-sorry.” She softly answered, cowering against the wall.
Her stomach turned to ice. She kept her gaze low but could feel the heat of Soren’s stare drilling into her.
“Don’t forget your place, Omega,” Soren continued, stepping closer. “You will not look at him again. Do you understand me?”
Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. “Yes, Alpha.”
His hand lifted — not to strike, but to grip her chin in a sharp, possessive hold, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“You belong to this pack. And no Alpha from the outside will take you from it. Not while I draw breath.” He warned, gritting his teeth in anger. “Go back to your room until I think of a fitting punishment.”
Aria stared at her Aloha in pure shock and terror. “N-No, Alpha Soren. P-please don’t – “
“Go NOW!” He growled, making Aria cower in fear and submission.
“Y-Yes, Alpha Soren.” She quietly agreed, giving in to him.
When he released her, the sting of his dominance lingered in the air. Alpha Soren turned sharply, leaving her in the corridor with her heart hammering in her ears.
Seungcheol’s hands were steady on his wine glass at the table, his expression carved from stone. His wolf was pacing, restless, snarling against the thin leash he held.
His Beta Jeonghan leaned toward him, voice a whisper. “You’re staring.”
The Alpha remained silent, his gaze briefly turning to the door through which Aria had vanished. The lingering trace of her scent, sharp and undeniable, filled his lungs.
“Do you know her?” Jeonghan pressed, sipping his wine..
“No,” Seungcheol lied smoothly, but the word tasted bitter.
His eyes glowed a faint red for just a heartbeat, igniting an overwhelming urge to rise and clear the path to her, ready to confront anyone who dared stand in his way. The only things holding him back were the piercing gazes of everyone at the table and the undeniable commitment he had made to another.
“Clumsy thing, isn’t she?” Hyunjoo murmured, her tone honeyed but laced with steel. She rested her hand lightly on Seungcheol’s arm — a touch that was equal parts claim and warning.
Seungcheol didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at her. His eyes stayed locked on the space where the Omega disappeared from until Alpha Soren returned, but Aria wasn’t with him.
Hyunjoo’s smile didn’t falter, but her mind was already racing. She knew what she’d seen. And she knew exactly how dangerous it was.
The dinner conversations continued, with Alpha Soren and Alpha Seungcheol discussing peace treaties and his upcoming wedding to Hyunjoo.
Later that night, the soft glow of candlelight flickered across the walls of the Shadowcrest estate’s guest chamber. Seungcheol sat near the window, gazing out but seeing nothing. The weight of the day pressed on him like a stone. Hyunjoo’s footsteps were quiet as she entered, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
“You’ve been… distant,” She said, voice low and carefully measured as she approached him.
He didn’t turn immediately, but he didn’t deny it either.
“There was someone at the dinner,” Hyunjoo continued, settling onto the edge of the bed. “An Omega. You noticed her.” Her eyes caught the faintest flicker of something unreadable in his gaze.
Seungcheol’s jaw tightened. “It was nothing.”
She smiled—cool and sharp. “Nothing makes you lose your focus in front of an entire pack. Nothing makes you stare like that.”
He finally looked at her, eyes dark and conflicted. “I’m preparing for marriage. There’s a lot on my mind.”
Hyunjoo’s smile faded, replaced with something more dangerous. “Don’t forget Seungcheol, I'm your Luna and we WILL get married in two weeks.”
Aria sat on the dirty ground, silently crying inside the Silver Hallow Pack's basement. Alpha Soren had the basement partially built, but it had prison-looking cells - one for each omega and an extra. Cement walls and flooring with reinforced steel bars in the front – walls and floors were damp from leaks, the air smelling of piss and mildew. Each cell had a metal cot with a thin mat on a wire frame, a hole in the ground to relieve themselves, and a chain embedded into the wall and connected to the ankle of whichever omega was inside. It looked and smelled like hell.
After dinner, Soren directed his Beta to escort Aria to one of the cells, where he would chain her to the wall. Aria knew what Soren had in store for her, and she wasn't accustomed to it, but mentally prepared for the challenge ahead. The heavy door closed with a resounding thud, and Aria felt the weight of her emotions, the tears flowing more fiercely. She recognized the instrument in his hand: a four-tailed braided leather whip symbolizing his authority.
“You know what, I'm not even mad because I knew this day would come, but I didn’t know it would be this soon.” Alpha Soren explained, laughing as he shook his head. “Of all people, your mate is Alpha Choi Seungcheol, who happens to be getting married in two weeks. That’s hilarious.”
Aria listened to Alpha Soren's words but chose to dismiss them. Everyone in the country knew about Alpha Seungcheol’s arranged marriage to Kim Hyunjoo. She was significant in the community; everyone respected her alongside her father, and many regarded her as fortunate to marry an Alpha of such high status. It was no secret that other women felt jealous and admired her position.
“It’s not my fault.” Aria hiccupped through her tears.
“You are MY omega, and no mate is taking you away from me. Yeongsoo! Isaias! Get in here.” Hearing those two names, Aria's blood ran cold, and the color drained from her face.
Among all of Alpha Soren's pack members, Yeongsoo and Isaias were the ones she feared most. They thrived on witnessing her pain, deriving a twisted satisfaction from her suffering. When they heard their Alpha's call, Yeongsoo and Isaias strode into the dark, cold basement, ready to assert dominance.
“Yes, Alpha?” Isaias asked, bowing to show a sign of respect.
“I want you two to show Aria here why she’s my omega and shouldn’t think about other Alphas.” Alpha Soren said, smirking at the shivering girl in the cage.
“Yes, Alpha.” Yeongsoo, sickened, smiled, rubbing his hands together.
“You got it,” Isaias replied, thinking of all the sickening ways to make Aria cry out in pain.
Once Alpha Soren left, Isaias opened her cell door and stepped inside. Aria cowered in the corner, shaking and shying away as he unlocked the cuff on her ankle. Yeongsoo snatched her up and guided her out. She winced in pain as he forced her to walk as she tried to defy and fight back. The young woman knew Alpha Soren must be out of his fucking mind.
He knew Aria was petrified of Yeongsoo and Isaias and used her fear to punish her as he saw fit. She always endured whatever game they’d come up with, knowing no one would take her side or care what they did to her. Aria didn’t know their latest interest, and it seemed like it would be the same game again tonight as they led her through the living room towards the back door.
“Go get the black duffle bag,” Yeongsoo tells Isaias as he holds Aria tighter.
Isaias smirked, ran inside, grabbed a medium-sized black duffle bag, and returned outside. He unzipped the bag and grinned at its contents.
“We’re going to have so much fun with you, beautiful.” Isaias laughed, seeing the disgusted expression on her face.
The first weapon Isaias pulled out was a pair of brass knuckles that he put on his right hand. As he slowly turned toward her, Aria’s heart rate picked up, and the next thing she knew was that he made her double over in pain as he punched her in the stomach. It was so excruciating that her knees buckled and she fell to the floor. Aria lay on the ground crying, wishing everything would end, but she also knew this was just the start of her punishment.
